Overview
The African leopard (or Panthera pardus pardus) is the nominate subspecies of the leopard, native to Central and Southern Africa. It has a slender build with an elegant head. The base coat colour ranges from yellow to dark golden and is covered in small, tightly spaced rosettes that turn into black spots towards the lower body, face, and tail tip. The underside and inside of the legs are white. The African leopard is sexually dimorphic, with males being larger and heavier than females. Males are 60cm to 70cm tall at the shoulder, 1.52m to 1.83m long, with an extra 66cm added by the tail, and weigh 58kg to 96kg. Females stand 55cm to 65cm tall at the shoulder, are 1.39m to 1.67m long with a 60cm tail, and weigh 24kg to 37.5kg.
Appearance
Male
Female
Juvenile
Size & weight
Size
Shoulder height: 60 to 65 cm
Weight
Male
200 kg
Female
150 kg
Bars use a log scale against the heaviest animal in the Zoopedia, the Common Hippopotamus.
Juvenile
Juvenile weight
10 kg
Measured as Shoulder height. The person stands 1.75 m tall for scale.
Habitat requirements
Barrier grade
Grade 3 of 5
Minimum height
3 m minimum
Climbing & water
Climb proof
Needed
Water barrier
Not allowed
Habitat needs
Minimum area
Land
705 m² + 110 m² per extra animal
Climbing
45 m² + 15 m² per extra animal
Shelter
10 m² per animal
Environment
Temperature
14 to 36°C
Plant coverage
0-30%
Enclosure
Climb-Proof Habitat
Dislikes
Rain and snow
Terrain
- Rock 0-40%
- Grass 10-90%
- Soil 10-60%
- Sand 0-20%
Diet and enrichment
Diet
- Nutritionally Complete Meat
- Small Carcasses
Water sources
Conservation
IUCN Red List
Vulnerable
Least concern
Critically endangered
Despite the African leopard’s wide range and reputation for adaptability, it is considered a Vulnerable species. Agricultural and urban expansion as well as logging fragment their habitat, reducing access to prey populations. Poaching and illegal wildlife trade also pose serious threats, as leopard skins, claws, and teeth are sought after for traditional rituals or as hunting trophies for one of Africa’s ‘big five’. Conservation efforts focus on legal protection, habitat conservation, and community engagement: Many countries restrict hunting and trade, and protection under Appendix I of CITES prohibits international commercial trade of wild-caught specimens. Protected areas and wildlife corridors support leopard populations while reducing human-wildlife conflict. Community programs educate local people about the ecological role of leopards, and provide incentives for coexistence, such as compensation for livestock losses or the promotion of eco-tourism. Long-term success depends on continued funding, research, and collaboration between governments, NGOs, and local communities.
Zoopedia sketchbook
Social & reproduction
Keeper notes
African leopards are solitary except for a mother raising her cubs. African leopards can mate year-round. Oestrus cycles last about 46 days and the female is receptive for a week per cycle. Males track females via their vocalisations and urine markings. A pair will remain together for a few days and mate several times throughout this period before separating again. The gestation period lasts 3 to 3.5 months, after which a litter of 2 to 4 cubs is born in a den or crevice, though in the wild only 40 to 50% of cubs survive their first year. They are born blind and helpless and remain in the den for the first weeks of their life. At 9 weeks old, they begin eating solid food, and start following their mother on hunting trips at 3 months old. Cubs stay with their mother for up to 2 years, though are able to survive on their own from 1 year old onwards. Upon separating from their mother, young leopards may travel with their siblings for a little while longer, before eventually dispersing into a fully solitary lifestyle. Leopards reach sexual maturity at about 2.5 years old.
Group and breeding
Group
Group size
1-2 (up to 1 male, up to 1 female)
Male bachelor group
1
Female bachelor group
1-2
Offspring dispersal
All offspring
Lifecycle and breeding
Life expectancy
12-20 years
Age of sexual maturity
2.5 years
Age of sexual sterility
15 years
Gestation or incubation
3.2 months
Interbirth period
20.8 months
Litter size
1-2
Mating system
Promiscuous
Mating season
Aseasonal
Reproduction in captivity
Average
Colourmorphs
- Erythristic
- Melanistic
Research
Research levels
| Level | Unlocks | Research gate |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Thriving Requirement 1: Restraint Feeder, at least 1 | |
| Level 2 | Thriving Requirement 2: Water Surface Area; African Leopard Fact Sheet | |
| Level 3 | Release groups and release to the wild | |
| Level 4 | Thriving Requirement 3: Food Grade 2; Fertility Level 1 (+15% fertility) | Before this level: an Observation Network (Observation Platform) in Great Rift Valley Reserve and this species released in Great Rift Valley Reserve |
| Level 5 | Thriving Requirement 4: Scratching Post, at least 1 | |
| Level 6 | Thriving Requirement 5: Climbing Area; Fertility Level 2 (+30% fertility) |
Researched by
Vets
Researched at
Habitat or exhibit and Research Centre
Wildlife Reserve
Great Rift Valley Reserve
Every level of this species' research, with its unlock conditions.
Release groups
Valid release groups
| Group | Type | Animals |
|---|---|---|
| Maternal Family Group | Female group | 1 female |
| Solitary Male | Solitary male | 1 male |
Release requirements
| Requirement type | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Ecosystems Required | Either Wetland or Riverine |
| Ecosystems Required | Flourishing Dense Forest |
| Species Roles Required | Medium Prey |
Ecosystems
Release groups, reserve requirements and the roles this species fills.
Animal facts
- African leopards are quite arboreal, using trees to cache their kills in order to protect them from other, stronger predators like lions, hyenas or wild dogs.
- The African leopard has likely been extirpated from Northern Africa and only the Sub-Saharan populations survive in its original range.
- Leopards sometimes occur as a melanistic morph, where the base coat colour is black. The rosettes can still be seen in some lighting circumstances.
- The Zulu people revere the leopard as a noble, courageous and honourable creature. In their language, it is called 'ingwe'.
- Leopards have phenomenal eyesight that supports their nocturnal hunting behaviours. They can see about 7 times better in the dark than humans.
Taxonomy
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
